Automatic phonograph



Oct. 3, 1939. L. J. ANDRES 2,175,142

AUTOMATIC ruonoenna Fil ed Sept. 14, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- AETORNEY.

Oct. 3, 1939.

J. ANDRES 7. 2,175,142 7 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. '14, 1936 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1939. L. J. ANDRES AUTOMATIC rnouocmra Filed se i. 14, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 l miww w v INVENTOR: L [05d J drzdzas.

W m W 05%. zy/A flTTOff/VEY Oct. 3, 1939. I L. J. AND-RES 2,175,142

AUTOMATIC PHONOGBAPH Filed Sept. 14, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR.

ATTORNEY.

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Oct. 3, 1939. L. J. ANDRES 2,175,142

AUTOMATIC PHONQGRAPH Filed Sept. 14, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 3, 1939. L. J. ANDRES 2,175,142

. I AUTOMATIC PHONQGRAPH Filed Sept. 14, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 AUTOMATIO PHONOGRAPH Lloyd J. Andres, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Auto- -matic Instrument Company, Grand Rapids,

Mich., a corporation of lvlichigan Application September 14, 1936, Serial No. 100,584

41 Claims. (01. 27410) This invention relates in general to a phonograph and has more particular reference to a 'selective rotary record type of mechanism in which' the records are held in spaced apart posi- 5 tion so that a sound pick-up mechanism may be inserted between any adjacent records for playing a record selection on either side of any record.

An important object of the invention is therefore in the provision of a multiple record'holder in which the records are mounted upon a single shaft with which all of the records are rotatable when any one of them is played.

Other and further objects of the invention are: to provide a mechanism which will select and play both sides of a plurality of standard records without the attention of an operator after the selection is made; to provide a record holder in which either side of the record may be played without transferring the record to a' separate turntable or holder; to provide a tone pick-up arm having two needles for playing opposite sides of records which will double the time usually required for replacement of the needles; to provide an inertia factor in the mounting of all records upon a single holder which stabilizes the rotation of any record which is being played; to provide a multiple record holder in which records may be removed or replaced with ease and automatically aligned by the insertion of the main driving shaft; to provide amechanism in which a relatively short space of time elapses between the finish of one selection and the beginning of a subsequent selection; to provide a machine in which the reproducer arm and the records will not be dam- I 35. aged by rough'handling in moving or shipping;

to provide a machine with a minimum number of adjustments; to provide'a mechanism in which the reverse side of anyrecord is automatically played through the action of a simple reversing switch; to provide a phonograph mechanism which will play both sides of successive records in progressive sequence at one setting; to provide a mechanism in which a simple cut-off adjustment is provided for each individual record; and in general to produce the mechanism herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the playing mechanism; f

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 in spaced apart relation to more clearly illustrate the necessary structure and operation; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the record holder;

Fig. 4 is .atransverse sectional view through one of the record -holdersof Fig. 3;

PATENT OFFICE v Fig. 5 is a plan-view of one of the record holders;

Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the record holder supports;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the mechanism in Fig.

1 showing the driving connections;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view illustrating the needle pressure movement of the tone arm;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken through the machine and the tone arm thereof;

Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating the selector mechanism for the selection at both sides of one record;

Fig. 12 is a perspective of the selecting latch mechanism;

the record shaft and is raised and lowered between adjacent records and the two needles are provided to engage opposite faces of two records without moving the carriage to a new position. As an alternative two separate pickup arms may be arranged on the pickup arm in the form of a fork so as to straddle and play both sides of a selected record without movementto a new position. I

As the direction of rotation .of the'records must be in opposite directions to play selections on their opposite sides, all rotating partsqare reversible without destroying the selective function of the. mechanism. The selector latches may be I actuated manually or by the use of electromagnets energized from a distance or by the impact of coins utilizing conventional multiple chutes. It will also be understood that the vibrations picked'up by the tone arm may be eiectrically transmitted by means of flexible conductors to an appropriate amplifier and loud speaker system (not shown).

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a reversible electric moto 20 has a driving shaft 2! connected by a worm pinion 22 with a driving gear 23 for a record holder shaft 24; a worm pinion 25 meshing with a gear 26 connected to a shaft 21 for actuating a tone arm carriage 28; and a worm pinion 29 meshing with a gear 38 secured to. a shaft 3i for operating a tone arm drive cam 32 and a selector drum 33.

Rotary record holder.--At one end of the record holder shaft 24 is a hand wheel 34 secured thereto and the other end of the shaft is threaded and formed with a pointed extremity 35. At the hand wheel end is a bearing 36 through which the shaft is inserted until a reduced portion 31 of the bearing abuts the hand wheel. Mounted on the reduced portion is the driving gear 23 which has a contact plate 38 at one side secured to the bearing 36 by a set screw 39 and at the other side of the gear is a frictional contact plate 48 engaging thegear and having a projection 4| engaging a keyway 42 on the reduced portion 31 of the bearing so that it will not rotate with respect to the bearing 36. To press this plate 48 yieldingly against the gear 23 the outer end of the reduced portion 31 is threaded to receive a nut 43 which engages the central portion of a spring 44 mounted on this reduced portion 31 .having its outer edge or ends bearing against the outer portion of the plate 48 so that tightening the nut against the spring clamps the gear 23 yieldingly between the plates 28 and 48.

This bearing 36 is mounted in a bearing sleeve 45 carried by a standard 46 supported on a common base 41. At its inner end the bearing has an enlarged portion 48 which limits its movement with respect to the support 46 and permits the insertion and removal of the shaft 24 without disturbing its mounting.

At the other end of the shaft is a bearing block 48 having a threaded bore to receive the correspondingly threaded end of the shaft, and a flange 58 at its inner end to limit the movement of the block with respect to a bearing sleeve 5| carried by a bearing support 52 also mounted on the base 41.

Mounted at the top of the support 52 is a headed plunger 53 adapted to engage slots 54 at the end of bearing block 49 when the plunger is pressed inwardly against the tension of a spring 55 which tends to hold it out of such engagement with the slots.

Mounted on the shaft intermediate the bearings are spacers 56, 51 and 53 by means of which a number of records 68 are clamped in position along the shaft.

Each record is placed between clamping faces of adjacent spacers and each spacer has a reduced neck 6| adapted to be engaged by a notch 62 at the upper end of a spacer support 63 which has a bottom portion 64 adapted to be upheld and secured to the supporting base 41;

Adjustably mounted in the spacer support are record supports 65 and 66 each having a base portion and an upwardly extending portion with a central notch 61 movable below a record to 'position the central perforation of a record so that it is approximately in alignment with the axis of the shaft 24. 1

These supports 65 and 66 are provided with slots 68 through which fastening screws 69 extend for securing them to the base 41 once they have been adjusted properly in position for any record, and the ends of these supports are provided with extensions 18 and II at opposite sides of a central pivot 12 extending into the base 41 upon which is mounted a bar 13 having oppoof the holders 65 and 66 toward and from each 6 other at the same time.

These record hglders, together with the spacer holders, are secured to the base in proper record holding position between the bearings for the shaft 24. To insert a new set .of records the shaft 24 is removed by disengaging the threaded end from its bearing 49 by pressing the plunger 53 into engagement with one of the slots 54 and turning the hand wheel 34. The removal of the shaft allows the spacers and records to drop slightly until they are engaged by their respective supports 63, 65 and 66. Any one or all of the records may then be removed, changed in position, and new ones substituted in their respective supports. The insertion of the shaft 24 engages the central perforations of all of the records and lifts them and the spacers from their supports because of the pointed extremity 35 which easily engages the perforations of the parts and raises them slightly so that they are free from contact with the supports. The shaft is tightly threaded in its bearing 49, clamping the records and spaced parts together between the bearings on the shaft.

The gear-wheel 23 drives the record assembly through the friction provided by the plates 38 and 48 which are under the tension of the spring 44. As it is necessary to reverse the direction of the driving shaft and the motor this friction drive is employed to eliminate excessive shock from the driving motor which would result from the inertia of the rotating records.

' Pickup carriage.-Slidably mounted on two slotted shafts 88 and 8! is the pickup carriage 28 which carries a pickup arm 82 adapted to extend between any two adjacent records 68 and having oppositely inclined pickup needles 83 and 84 at its free extremity adjustably secured in place by one or more fastening screws 85. The pickup carriage preferably comprises a U-shaped metal plate carrying a bottom projection with a follower roller 86 adapted to engage in a continuous spiral cam groove 81 in the'spiral cam 32. Rotation of the cam moves the carriage along the rods 88 and 8| which extend transversely through the carriage.

The pickup arm is mounted upon a substantially vertical pivot shaft 88 mounted in a trun-- nion block 89 extending transversely of the carriage 28 and mounted at the ends upon pivot screws 96 so that the arm is free to rotate with the trunnion in an up and down movement between and with relation to the record discs. The arm is statically balanced by a counterweight 9| so that the movement of the tone arm for playing with the needle in the spiral grooves of the record is restricted only by the slight friction of the pivot screws 98.

Pickup arm movement-Mounted upon the shafts 88 and 8i within the carriage 28 are eccentric cams 92 and 93 having a keyed engagement with the shafts so that they can be rotated with the shafts regardless of the position of the carriage as determined by the movement of the cam 32. The cam 92 has a groove 94 for engageing a follower pin 95 at the bottom of the pickup arm 82 and the cam 93 has a groove 96 for engaging a follower pin 91 at the under side of the tone arm 82. The opposite sides of the cam groove 94 are formed with recesses 08 and the op- 180 degrees apart and as shown in Fig. 10 they are in the playing position in which the follower pins 95 and 91 are free from engagement with the cams. In the rest position the cams are both rotated 180 degrees and as they are eccentric to their shafts the cam 92 engages the tone arm 82 and raises the needle end out of engagement with the records so that the carriage may be moved to set the tone arm in position for any selected record; the cams are then rotated approximately to the positions shown in Fig. 10, and as the direction of rotation of the cams is dependent upon which side of the record is to be played, the action of the cam 93 in contact with its follower pin 91 causes the pickup arm to assume the start of play position adjacent the rim of the selected record 60.

The shafts80 and 8| are driven at the same speed and in the same direction by sprockets III of the same size attached to the shafts and connected by a sprocket chain I I2, and the shafts 88 is attached an arm I00 located below the trunnion block 89 and projecting at one side thereof. Attached to the other side of the block is a plate IIII having slots I02 through which screws I08 extend for holding it in connection with the block but permitting its sliding movement. Extending below the plate is a projection I04 with a spring I05 attached at one end to the projection I04 and at the other end to a. projection tilt at the end of the arm H10.

Also projecting from the plate IOI is a pin IBI engageable in a slot I08 at the upperiend of an arm 09 attached at its lower end to a plunger H0 extending through the sides of the a carriage 28. When the plunger is moved touthe left as shown in Fig. 9 the slotted arm engages the pin I01 and moves the sliding plate I0I which carries the spring I05 past the center of the pivot shaft 88 thus causing the spring to exert'a lateral pressure on the arm I00 which in turn gives a pressure to turn the needle end of the tone arm 82 toward the left in engagement with the record at that side. 5

When the plunger H0 is moved in the opposite direction, a reverse action takes place and.

pressure is exerted to turn opposite direction. I

, When the tone arm is moved by the cams 92 and 93 to the start of play position, the recesses 98 and 98 in the cams are moved so that the contact pins 95 and 91 are adjacent thereto the tone arm in the which permits a suflicient lateral movement of the tone arm under thepressure of spring I05 to move either pin 83 or 34 yieldingly into engagement with the proper record.

When the tone arm is at the lower end of its movement at the inner end of a record, the follower pin engages in the groove of cam 82 and the first movement of the cam centers the tone arm between any two adjacent records and moves it out'of contact therewith so that the tone arm may then be raised beyond the periphery of the records so that it can be moved to a new selected position by its carriage.

Reversing switch.Also' extending loosely throughthe carriage at one side of the plunger H0 is a reversing rod H3 which carries adjustable limit stops II4 and H5 inthe path ofmovement of the plunger H0 so that the plunger will be engaged at either end of its movement by one of the stops.

One end of the .rod H 3 is attached intermediate the ends of a lever H6 mounted upon a pivot H1 at one end and having a slot H8 at the other end for engaging a pin H9 onthe operating arm I20 of a motor controlling switch I2I. Also attached to a projection I22 on the lever H8 to which the rod is also connected is.

one end of a spring I23, the other end of which is attached to a fixed projection I24 just beyond the pivot H1, and the movement of the rod is suflicient so that whenfengaged by the plunger H0 of the carriage, the spring is pressed over the pivot center H'I causing the lever H8 and the switch arm I20 to act as a toggle connection, cushioning the movement of the bar H3 and holding the switch either in one position or in the other, and thereby reversing the electrical switch connection to the motor 20.

Stop mechanism-Mounted in upright supports I25 carried by the base 41 at the ends of the records is a cut-off bail I26 with crank ends positioned below the pickup arm 82 and. having a number of adjustable stops I21 connected thereto, one for each record. Each stop member I21 has a separately adjustable screw I28 for engaging a stop screw I29 carried by the pickup arm 82, the screws I28 being separately movable to provide a different cut-ofi for each rec- 0rd.

At the motorv end of the bail I25 is a crank arml30 connected by'a link I3I with one end of an opening lever I32 mounted on a pivot I33 intermediate its ends and having a projection I 34 at the opposite end for actuating a clutchtripping latch I35. This lever E32 is pulled in'a direction to restore the bail 028 by a spring I 36 attached at one end to the lever and at the other end to a, fixed'portion of the machine. v

As soon as the stop bail I28 is engaged by the pickup arm at the end of any record the movement of the bail cuts ofi the current to the pickup arm" 82 is centered and raised out of engaging position by itscams 92 and 93.

Carriage cam drioe.-'One of the carriage cam drive shafts'80 has a gear I3'Isecured'to it and meshing with a pinion I38 secured to a shaft I30 which is connected to the drive shaft 21 by a two-way clutch I40. I

Secured at the end of shaft 80 are restoring cams I4I and I42, the former having a single lobe. or projection and the latter having two opposite projections approxirn ately 180 degrees apart.

For controlling the clutch I40: a bar M3 is mounted for endwise movement in a fixed guide I44 and one end is engaged by one armof a bell crank M5 the other end of which is engaged by a link Hit which bears against the double lobe cam It? A collar Ml slidably mounted on the bar M3 has a flange Mt for operating the clutch Mi]. To this collar is pivoted the latch bar 135 having motor as hereafter setforth, but not before the a tooth I49 for engaging a beveled collar I50 secured to the bar I43 with a spring I5I between the beveled bar I43 and the guide I44 tending to press the collar against the bell crank I45 and with a spring I52 between the fixed collar I and the movable collar I41 and considerably weaker than the other spring I5I.

The pivoted latch bar I35 is held in latched position by a spring I53 inserted between the collar I41 and the adjacent end of the bar'and the free end of the latch bar extends a sufflcient distance beyond the engaging pin I34 to permit the movement of the bar I43 without disengaging the latch bar I35.

The clutch I40 (see also Fig. 14) comprises a clutch plate I54 secured at the end of shaft 21 and a toothed clutch member I55 secured to the end of the shaft I39. To the plate I54 a latch I56 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pivot I51 and having an offset I58 at one side of the pivot and a projection I59 at this end out of line with the other end in which is an inner notch I60 for engaging a tooth I6I on the clutch member I55.v A spring I51a tends to hold this lever so that the notch I60 is in engagement with the tooth I6I. The portion opposite the notch has a projection I62 corresponding to that on the tail piece so that when the flange I48 of the adjacent clutch operating bar is in line with the notched end of the latch it will press it into engagement with the tooth l6I in either direction of rotation and when the flange I48 is opposite the other end I59 it will knock the latch out of such engagement for either direction of rotation of the driving shaft 21.

Record cam drive-A similar two-way operating clutch I65 connects the driving shaft 3I with a driven shaft I66 to which is secured a driving pinion I61 meshing with a gear I68 secured to a shaft I69 upon which the record cam 32 is mounted. v

Rotation is imparted to the selector drum 33 from shaft I69 by a 'spiral pinion I10 on shaft I69, 9. gear "I on a cross'shaft I12, anda pinion I13 on shaft I12 meshing with a gear I14.on shaft I15 upon which the selector drum is mounted.

Instead of this driving connection the cam 32 may be directly connected to the drum 33 by means of a gear I69a mounted on the shaft I69 for the cam 32 and meshing with a gear I15a secured to the shaft I15 on which the drum I33 is mounted.

The clutch I65 is operated by the same kind of a mechanism as described in connection with the clutch I40; including a collar flange I16, a latch member I11 pivoted thereto, and a bar I13 on which the collar is mounted. The bar is engaged by a bell crank I19 having a pin and slot con nection I with a switch restoring rod I8I which is slidably mounted and held in contact with restoring cam MI by a spring I82 connected to a latch I83 pivoted at the end of the rod. The latch I11 is also actuated against its retaining spring by a lever I84 having a pivot I84a inter-- mediate its ends and having a projection I84b at one end to engage the tail piece of the latch bar I11 and having a pin and slot connection I85 at the other end with a controlling bar I36 which also carries a projection I81 for operating the latch bar I35 for the other clutch I40.

Thus the record cam 32 and the selector drum are driven in timed relation from the motor shaft and in opposite directions depending upon the direction of rotation of the driving motor 20.

Record selector mechanism.'1'he record selector drum comprises a number of. spaced projections I spirally arranged about the drum and one for each of the selections on both sides of the records 60. The selector mechanism as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 comprises a plurality of push buttons arranged in upper and lower sets I9I and I92 and corresponding to the selections on the left and right hand faces of the records as they are mounted in the record holder. latch mechanism corresponding to the right hand faces is inverted with respect to that of the left hand faces and the inverted selector mechanisms are alternately spaced with respect to the opposite ones. Each selector mechanism comprises a push button I9I (or I92) extending through a front plate I93 and a rear guide plate I94 and having a spring I95 mounted on the push button and bearing against the guide I94 at one end and against a bearing pin I96 at the other end tending to hold the push button outwardly.

The inner end of each push button engages one end of a. lever I91 mounted on a pivot I98 adjacent its upper end and having a notch I99 at its other endfor engaging one end of a bell crank 200 pivoted at its angle upon a bearing pin 20I near the free end of an arm 2 I0 which is mounted The upon a pivot 202 at its other end. A spring 203 is g,

connected at one end to the lever I91 adjacent its pivot and at the other end to the notch engaging extremity of the bell crank 200. The other end 204 of the bell crank 200 is movable in the slot of a guide 205 into and out of the path of its particular projection I90 carried by the selector drum 33.

' When the push button is operated the lever I91 is moved to release the bell crank latch 200 moving its extremity 204 into the path of its projection I90 on the selector drum where it is held resiliently by the spring 203. If the drum is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 11) the projection I90 will simply engage the extremity 204, rocking the bell crank outwardly against the tension of its spring 203, but if the drum is rotated in the opposite direction the projection I90 will engage the end 204 of the bell crank, pressing it and its mounting. arm downwardly for operating it.

These movements of the bell crank and its supporting arm cause the operation of an inner crank 206 which engages the side of the arm 204 of the bell crank, and an outer crank 201 which engages below the outer or free end of the 'arm 2I0. The crank 206 has an extension with a crank arm 208 for engaging the switch Operating latch I83 (Fig. 2) and the crank 201 has an extension with a crank 209 (Fig. 1) for operating the controlling bar I 86 against the tension of its restoring spring 2. The restoring spring 2 and the restoring spring I82 of the switch tend to return the cranks 201 and 206 respectively to their at rest or unoperated position.

Selector operati0n.-As a record selector drum is rotated in opposite directions the selector latches the operating buttons for the ten upper selectors correspond to the selections on the right hand sides of the record 60 but the lower ten selectors and corresponding push buttons I92 are the same as the upper latches and mechanism but are simply inverted and correspond to the selections on the left hand sides of the records. As the upper and lower selector buttons are alternately spaced, the selector buttons are mthe same order as the selectors 'on the records.

As the upper set of latches is simply inverted with respect to the lower set of latches, a separate description of the latches is not requiredbut the upper set of latches does require an inner crank 206a corresponding to the crank 206 and an outer crank 201a corresponding to the crank 201 for simultaneous movement and operation. The cranks 206 and 266a are therefore connected by gears 2I2 (Fig. 12) and the cranks 201 and 201a are connected by gears 2I3.

Thus when any one of the upper or lower selector latches are operated, the cranks 206 and 206a are engaged and moved to actuatethe switch connected to a source of power and to one central.

contact 224 of a reversing. switch respectively. Another conductor 225 extends from the source of power to the other central contact 226 of the reversing switch. Conductors 223 and 225 are connected directly to motor terminals and conductors. 221 and 228 are also connected to the motor and are reversed by the switch for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor in a well known manner. The reversing switch is operated by the arm I20 in connection with the operating bar II3as previously explained.

The circuit closing switch comprises a contact 230 for engaging between and connecting the contact members 220 and 22I and thereby closing' a circuit from the source of power to the motor for operating it in either direction as determined by the position of the reversing switch. This contact is carried at one end of an arm 23I mounted on a pivot 232 intermediate its ends and having a spring 233 attached at its other end and drawing it in a direction to close the circuit between the contacts 220 and 22 I. Mounted; on the lever or forming a part of it is a disc 234 having a notch 235 engaged by the end of thespring pressed latch I83 which in turn is operated to conditions are found in the machine;

push the latch out of the notch by the crank arm 208 of the crank 206. When the latch is pushed out of engagement with the notch 235 the spring 233 moves the contact 230 to make the electrical connection starting the motor. When theplaying of a selection is complete the cam I41 on the shaft 80 is moved to engage the end of the operating. bar I8I against the tension of spring H32 which causes a movement of the latching pawl I03 and the engagement of the end of the pawl with the notch 235 pushing the lever 23I so that the contact 230 is moved out of engagement with the fixed contacts 220 and 22I.

Summary of operation.--Assuming. that the 1 machine has just played a right hand selection on one of the-records and is at rest the following (a) all selector latches are restored; (b) clutch I40 is disengaged; (c) clutch I65 is engaged; (d)

clutch latches I35 and I11 are in latched position;

(e) motor switch is held in open position by latch I83; (1) reversing rod H3 and reversing switch is inits right hand position.

Assuming now that it-is desired to play the left hand selection of record number six the following actions take place: I

The operator trips the latch for the left hand selection on record number six. by pressing the corresponding lower push button I92. This operation actuates the crank 206 and moves the switch pawl I83 by means of its crank arm 208 disengaging the pawl from the switch lever 23I which permits the spring 233 to rotate the switch lever and its contact 230 to close an electrical connection to the motor 20.

The driving motor starts and runs in a counterclockwise direction facing the shaft end of the motor because of the right hand position of the reversing switch arm I20. I

This rotation of the motor causes a counterclockwise rotation of the record shaft 24 and the records mounted thereon as viewed from,' the right hand or motor end of the shaft.

The spiral carriage operating cam 32 is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the motor end of the cam which moves the pickup carriage 28 to the left. This rotation is transmitted from worm wheel 30 through shaft 3|, clutch I65, shaft I66, gears I61 and I68, and shaft I69 to the cam 32. One rotation of the cam moves the pickup carriage from one playing position to the next adjacent playing position and there is a sufiicient overrun of the cam groove 81 at each end toadd sufficient movement to the pickup carriage to operate the reversing rod by means of the plunger IIO.

The selector drum 33 is rotated in an oppositeor counter-clockwise direction by means of the driving connectionbetween the shafts I69 and I for the spiral cam and selector drum respectively. The pickup carriage is movedfrom one end of the cam 32 to the other end thereof while the selector drum 33 makes one complete rotationso that there is a definite timing relation between the spiral cam and the selector drum.

As the left/hand selection of record number six requires a clockwise rotation of the selector drum 33,- the selector latch will not engage its corresponding selector lug I90 until the drum 33 rotates in a clockwise direction.

As the pickup carriage moves to its extreme left hand position the plunger H0 engages reversing stop H4 and because the. toggle spring I05 in the carriage is weaker than the reversing toggle spring I23, the plunger IIO moves to the right hand position throwing the needle tension in the proper direction for playing the left hand side of the "records, Continued movement of the pickup carriage finally overcomes the resistance of the toggle spring I23 and the reversing rod is thrown over to its left hand position which operates the reversing switch and reversesthe direction of rotation of the driving motor and all of its connected rotating parts. I

The records are now rotating in a clockwise directionas referred to the driving end of their shaft 24, and the rotation'of the otherparts as described is correspondingly reversed.

The record carriage now travels toward the right until the lug number six on the selector drum 33 engages the number six selector latch. As the latch is moved by the rotation of the drum the following actions take place:

a. The common selector operating shaft 201 is rotated by its connection with the crank 201a and the connected gears M3, and the crank arm 209 actuates the controlling bar I86 tripping the clutch latches I11 and I35;

b. The lowering of the latch bar I11now allows the spring I52 to move the operating collar so that its flange I16 is in its right hand position to engage the operating lever of the clutch I65 to release the clutch for disconnecting the shaft I66;

0. The spiral cam 32 and the selector drum 33 now cease rotating and the pickup carriage 28 is at rest in its playing position between records five and six;

d. When the latch bar I35 of the clutch I48 is operated by the selector bar I86, the collar I 4'! moved to its right hand position which caused the engagement of the clutch I49 conmeeting the shaft I 39 for rotation by means of the shaft 21; e. Just before the selector drum 33 ceased rotating the selector latch number six was restored to its normal position'by the returning action of the spring 2 on the operating bar I86 and its movement of the crank rod 291 of the selector mechanism.

Shafts and 8I are now rotated. in the same direction at the same rate of speed by pinion I 38 on shaft I39 which meshes with gear I31 on shaft '80.

The rotation of the pickup arm lowering cam 92 allows a downward movement of the tone arm and the similar rotation of the cam 93 rotates and lowers its surface downwardly from the arm 82 to provide sufficient clearance for the playing action of the cam 82.

Near the end of the 180 degrees rotation of cam 92, the. follower projection 91 enters the left side recess 99 of its cam 93 because of the action of the spring I 05 and thus moves the needle 84 into contact with the first playing grooves in the left side of record number six.

During the first ninety degrees of rotation of the shaft 88 the spring I 5| of the clutch bar I43 applied pressure by means of the bar to the bell crank I45 and thence through push rod I46 in contact with cam I42 which caused the shaft I43 to assume its extreme right position and permitted latch I35 to re-engage with its collar I58.

During the next ninety degrees of rotation of I the shaft 88 the cam I42 moves the push rod I46 and bell crank I45 to restore the shaft I43 to its .first position at the same time moving the collar I4'I because the bar I35 was latched with the collar I59. This latter movement causes the clutch I40 to be thrown out of engagement, thus stopping the rotation of the shafts 88 and 8|.

The first 180 degrees rotation of shaft 88 causes the restoring rod I8I to move to its rearmost position which permits the latch I" to engage with its collar I50 and alsoretrieves the pawl I83 sufliciently so that the next forward movement will cause the pawl to engage with the latch disc 234.

The needle 84 is now in engagement with the playing grooves of the left side of record number six and the pickup arm is being moved downwardly as the record is played.

As the needle approaches the last playing grooves of the record the cut-off stop I29 engages with the set stop onthe cut-off crank I26 which overcomes the slight tension of spring I36 and permits the link I3I and lever I32 to again trip the latch lever I35 which causes re-engagement of the clutch i40 which connects the shafts g: and I39 for operating the cam shafts 80 and This rotation of shafts 80 and 8| rotates the earns 92 and 93 forengagi'ng the pickup arm 82,

first centering the arm between the records as the projections 95 and 91 move out of the cam recesses 98 and 99 and then raising the arm from between'the two adjacent records.

During the return degrees rotation the switch restoring rod I8I moves the clutch bar I'I8 to the left by means of the bell crank I19 which is timed to cause a re-engagement of the clutch I65.

At the end of this same 180 degrees rotation the switch restoring r'od I8I moves the switch pawl I83 to engage in the notch 235 of the switch operating disc on the lever 23I which opens electrical connections between the contacts 222 and 223 and thereupon stops the motor 29 so that the machine is again at rest ready for a subsequent operation.

Other conditions.When the side of a record is played opposite to that as described, the motor and the shafts 80 and 8I are driven in reverse directions. The pickup, lowering and raising operations are the same because the cams 92 and 93 are symmetrical in design which permits 180 degrees rotation in either direction to accomplish the same result.

When a plurality of selector latches are tripped by the operation of the buttons I9I or I92, record sides corresponding to these latches will be played in sequence as the selector drum 33 is rotated. Only when the last selector latch is restored will the selector switch release crank 208 permit the pawl I83 to engage with the switch arm latch 234 and thus open the drive motor circuit.

ord number two, and so on. Thus both sides of successive records may be played in progressive sequence.

The selector latches may ally or by use of electro-magnets energized from a distance or by the impact of separate coins utilizing conventional multiple chutes.

With this construction it is also possible to accommodate records of different sizes in the holder, the tone arm being lifted suihciently to clear records of the largest size. Variation of the needle setting and-cut-ofi is separately made for each record so that an adjustment once made for any record may be continued as long as that record is carried by the holder.

I claim: I

1. In a multiple record phonograph, a rotatable shaft and means for mounting a plurality of disc records thereon at spaced distances apart, the records having selections to be played on both faces'thereof; a tone arm movable between adjacent records having needles fixed thereto for playing records at opposite sides, and means including a movable carriage for mounting the tone arm and a spring on the carriage for engaging and pressing the entire tone arm in either di-.

rection until a needle engages a record depending upon which of the two record faces between which the tone arm is placed is to be played.

2. A phonograph according to claim 1 in which the records are rotatable in opposite directions, and the two needles are mounted directly 'upon the tone arm and are inclined oppositely to engage record grooves at opposite sides depending be actuated manu-' upon the direction of rotation and said last named means comprising a single spring having an arm to which it is connected on the carriage movable in opposite directions to apply the tone arm.

3. In a multiple record phonograph, meansfor mountinga plurality of records for joint rotation, including a shaft and a bearing member therefor at one end, a driving motor and a gear driven thereby'freely mounted on the bearing member, a plate fixed to the bearing member adapted to engage the gear and form an abutment therefor at one side thereof, another plate fixed to rotate with the bearing member but movable axially thereon to engage the opposite side of the saidgear, and means for pressing the movable plate against the gear and the gear against the fixed plate toconfine the gear yieldingly between the plates, thereby forming a frictional drive between the motor and the records.

4. In a multiple record phonograph, a rotatable shaft, spacing means between which the records are mounted on the shaft, a bearing block at one end of the shaft movable .to press said means together, and end bearings on the shaft between which records and said spacing means and bearing block are clamped by the movement of the bearing block in its end bearing for holding the records in place.

5. In a multiple record phonograph,'a record holder comprising a rotatable shaft to extend through the central hole of disc records, spacing clamps free on the shaft for engaging the opposite central portions of records, bearings at the ends of the shaft, one fixed at one end, and the other end of the shaft being threaded into its bearing, the bearing engaging and clamping spacers and records together on the shaft between the bearings.

6. In a multiple record phonograph, a record holder comprising a shaft pointed at one end for removable insertion through record center holes, a plurality of recordclam'ps between which the records are confined having central holes through which the shaft extends,- a plurality of.

supports positioned below the shaft for engaging the clamps when the shaft is removed and holding them substantially in the same position to be engaged by the pointed end of the shaft and lifted free from the supports when the shaft is I inserted, and end bearings for the shaft which holds the clamps above their supports.

'7. In a multiple record phonograph, a record holder comprising a removable shaft, a plurality of centrally perforated disc records and centrally perforated clamps therebetween through which the shaft extends, and a plurality of supports for the records and clamps extending free of the lower edges thereof when mounted on the shaft and supporting them in place to be re-engaged by the shaft when it is removed.

8. In a multiple record phonograph, a record holder comprising a removable shaft, a. plurality of perforated disc records through which the shaft is inserted, and a support for holding each record from below in position to be engaged for inserting the, shaft therethrough comprising of records on the shaft comprising a bearing member into which one end of the shaft is threaded, a fixed bearing support in which the bearing member is rotatable, and a plunger movable through the support into contact with the hearing member to hold it-from rotation for inserting and removing the shaft.

10. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of disc records and spacers, a shaft inserted therethrough, a threaded bearing member into which the shaft is inserted at one end, a bearing member through which the shaft extends at the other end and againstwhich the records and spacers are clamped by the other bearing member, a motor rotatable in either direction, and a friction drive for the shaft comprisinga gear driven by the motor and freely mounted on the second bearing member, and a spring pressed contact plate engaging the gear and rotatable with the second bearing member.

11. In a phonograph, a shaft for rotatably carrying a plurality of spaced records thereon, a tone arm movable between adjacent records,

a reciprocable carriage for also moving the en-,

tire tone arm to play either side of any record, a continuous cam means for moving the carriage in both directions, and cam means carried by the carriage and movable to raise the tone arm from a position between the records and to holdit above them when the carriage moves the arm.

12. In a phonograph, means forsupporting a plurality of records in spaced apart relation to rotate about a common axis in either direction,

acarriage movable parallel to the axis, a tone arm pivoted in the carriage and movable over the playing face at either side of any record,

cam means on the carriage to move the tone arm into and'out of playing position, and resilient means to press the entire tone arm in either direction depending upon which of the two faces between which the tone arm is placed is to be played. a

13. In a phonograph, means for rotatably carrying a plurality of records in spaced apart relation, a tone arm movable between adjacent records, a carriage to move the tone arm, cam means for moving the-arm out of playing position, resilient means for pressing the arm in either direction depending upon which of the two faces between which it is placed is to be played, and centering means comprising a projection on the arm and a groove on the cam for engaging the projection to center the arm between two records before it is moved out of playing position, I

14. In a phonograph, a plurality of records mounted in spaced relation to rotate upon a common axis, a carriage movable parallel to the axis, continuous cam means formoving the carriage in opposite directions, a tone arm pivoted on the carriage, cams carried by the carriage upon an axis other than that of the arm and movable to raise and lower the tone arm between the records, and means for rotating the cams in either direction to effect either the raising or lowering of the tone arm.

15. Ina phonograph, a plurality of records mounted in spaced relation, to rotate upon a commonaxis, a carriage movable ineither di rection parallel to the axis, a tone'arm movably mounted in the carriage to raise and lower, cams mounted in the carriage at opposite sides of the tone arm mounting and movable in either direction from their limiting positions to press the tone arm in either direction and operating means I from their limiting position to effect the same movement of the tone arm, the direction of movement of the cams depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage.

16. In a phonograph, a plurality of records mounted in spaced relation to rotate upon a common axis, a carriage movable parallel to the axis, a tone arm pivoted on the carriage, cams carried by the carriage at opposite sides of the tone arm pivot and movable to raise and lower the tone arm, means for selecting a record to be played, and operating means actuated by the selecting means for operating the cams to lower the tone arm.

17. In a phonograph, a plurality of records mounted in spaced relation to rotate upon a common axis, a carriage movable parallel to the axis, continuous cam means for moving the carriage in opposite directions, a tone arm pivoted on the carriage, cams carried by the carriage and adapted to engage the tone arm at opposite sides of its pivot and movable to raise and lower the tone arm, stop means engaged by the tone arm at the lower end of its playing movement, and operating 2 means actuated by the stop means for raising the tone arm.

18. In a phonograph, a plurality of records mounted in spaced relation to rotate upon a common axis, a carriage movable parallel to the axis, continuous cam means for moving the carriage in opposite directions, a tone arm pivoted on the carriage, cams carried by the carriage at opposite sides of the tone arm pivot and movable to raise and lower the tone arm, reversible driving means, clutch mechanism for connecting the driving means to operate the cams, manually operable means for selecting a record to be played, operating means actuated by the selecting means for engaging'the clutch mechanism to operate the cams for lowering the tone arm, and stop means actuated by the tone arm at the end of its playing movement for actuating the same clutch mechanism to again operate the cams to raise the tone arm.

19. In a structure according to claim 18, a con troller cam also operated with the other cams and having opposite lobes for timed operation of the said clutch mechanism to release the driving connection as soon as the tone arm cams are operatively moved in either direction.

20. In a multiple record phonograph, a reciprocable carriage, a tone arm pivoted on the carriage, cams rotatable in the carriage for raising and lowering the tone arm and including shafts upon which the carriage is moved, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions including a clutch connection, a restoring cam on -one of the shafts having opposite projections,

and means operated by the restoring cam to release the clutch connection upon each half rotation of the shaft in either direction.

21. In a multiple record phonograph, a carriage reciprocable across a bank of spaced records, continuous cam means for moving the carriage in opposite directions, a tone arm mounted in the carriage to swing between any two records, resilient means on the carriage to engage the tone arm tending to swing the entire arm laterally for engagement with the playing grooves of either record between which it is inserted depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage.

22. In a multiple record phonograph, a carriage reciprocable with respect to a bank of spaced records, a tone arm having a pivot upon which it swings laterally, a block which carries the tone arm andis pivoted in the carriage to swing the tone arm between the records; and means comprising an arm on the pivot, a slidable plate on the carriage moved reversely at the end of the carriage movement in either direction, and a spring connecting the plate and the arm and moved by the plate over the center of the pivot to swing the tone arm to either side and in engagement with either record between which it is inserted depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage.

23. A structure in accordance with claim 22' including a plunger extending to opposite sides of the carriage for actuating the sliding plate, and reversing stops engaging the ends of the plungerat the limits of travel of the carriage.

24. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of spaced records mounted for rotation upon a common shaft, a motor for rotating the records in either direction, a tone arm movable between adjacent records, a reciprocable carriage for said arm, resilient means carried by the carriage for pressing the arm toward either side depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, and a reversing switch for the motor comprising stops at the end of the carriage travel engaged by said means for operating the switch.

25. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of spaced records mounted for rotation upon a common shaft, a motor for rotating the records in either direction, a tone arm movable between adjacent records, a reciprocable carriage for said arm, resilient means carried by the carriage for pressing the arm toward either side depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, push button means manually operable mechanism for predetermining a selection on either side of any record thereby determining the direction in which the carriage is .moved prior to the insertion of the tone arm, and reversing switch means for the motor including stops thereon engaged by the carriage at the ends of its path for reversing the direction of record rotation in accordance with the selection.

26. In a phonograph, a reversible motor drive for a plurality of spaced records upon a common shaft and a carriage reciprocable axially thereto, a tone arm mounted on the carriage, resilient means on the carriage to move the tone arm to ward one of the record faces depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, a motor reversing switch comprising an arm and a bar connected thereto having stops thereon engaged by the carriage at the ends of travel thereof for oppositely moving the bar to reverse the switch.

27. In aphonograph, a plurality of spaced r'ecords having playing faces on both sides mounted on a common shaft, a reversible motor and a yieldable clutch for driving the records in opposite directions, a carriage and means for reciprocating it axially of the records, and a reversing switch for the motor having a spring pressed operating bar with stops thereon at opposite ends of travel of the carriage and engaged thereby for reversing the direction of rotation of the records when the carriage is moved to reverse the switch and also its own direction.

28. In a phonograph, a plurality of spaced records mounted on a common shaft, a reversible motor and a yieldable clutch for driving the records in opposite directions, a carriage and means for reciprocating it axially of the records, rotating means for the records and for moving the 'riage for raising and lowering the arm, a clutch connection with the motor for driving the tone arm means, and clutch operating means for the tone arm clutch to operate the tone arm means to lower the arm to play the record and to raise the tons arm when the playing is completed for either direction of movement of the motor.

29. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of records spaced upon a common rotatable shaft, a carriage movable with respect to the records, a tone arm mounted on the carriage to engage the record faces, a record'selector comprising a rotatable drum, and push button manually operable means for choosing the selections at opposite sides of the records, the carriage movement depending upon the direction of rotation of the drum.

30. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of records spaced upon a shaft rotatable in opposite directions, a carriage reciprocable with respect to the records, means for moving the car- "riage in opposite directions, a tone arm mounted on the carriage, resilient means on the carriage to move the tone arm to engage one of opposite record faces depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, a push button manually operable record selector comprising a drum to rotate with the carriage moving means, and

means for choosing to play a selection upon either side of any record, said means comprising membersengaged by the drum in one direction of movement-but 'not in the other.

31. In a phonograph for playing either side a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common axis and rotatable in opposite directions, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions, push button manually operable means for choosing the records on opposite sides of the discs, the drum having projections for each of the selections at opposite sides of the discs, and means operative so that the right side faces of the records are selected when the drum rotates in one direction and the left side faces in the other direction.

32. In a phonograph for playing either side of a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common axis and rotatable in opp sitedirections, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions, push button manually operable means for choosing the records on opposite sides of the discs, comprising two sets of selectors, one for the right and the other for the left faces of the discs; and the drum having operating means for the selectors engaged only when the drum is rotated in the proper direction therefor.

33. In a phonograph for playing either side of a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common axis and rotatable in opposite directions, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions, push button manually operable means for choosing the records on opposite sides of the discs, comprising two sets of selectors one for the right and the other for the left faces of the discs, each selector having an operating lever, a releasable latch lever engaging the operating lever, and an arm on which the latch lever is pivoted, the drum having projections for operatively engaging the released latch in one direction of movement and sliding over the latch without operating it in the other direction of movement.

34. Ina phonograph for playing either side of a plurality 'of disc records spaced apart upon a common axis, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions, means comprising twosets of push button manually operable selectors for choosing the records on the right and left faces of the discs, each selectorhaving an operating lever, a releasable latch engaging the lever, an

arm on which the latch is pivoted and a spring connecting the latch and the lever, and the selectors for the opposite faces being oppositely dis.- posed with respect to the drum so that tne release latches of one set of selectors will be engaged by the drum in one direction of rotation, and the other set will be engaged by the drum in the other direction of rotation.

35. In a phonograph for selectively playing either side of a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common shaft, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions having projections corresponding to the selections on both sides of the discs, two sets of push button manually operable selectors for choosing the right and left faces of the discs, each selector having a releasable latch and the latches for opposite sets of selectors being oppositely disposed to be engaged by the drum projectors only in opposite directions of movement thereof, and a pair of crank arms connected, together and moved by the latches when any latch is engaged by the drum, and clutch operative means controlled by the crank arms. I

36. In a phonograph for playing either side of a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common axis, a selectordrum rotatable in opposite directions having projections for all of the disc selections, means comprising two sets of push button manually operable selectors for playing the records on opposite sides of the discs,

each selector having a releasable latch and an arm on which it is pivoted, and the selectors for opposite sides of the discs being oppositely disposed with respect to the drum so that the respective latches are engaged only by the projections when the drum is rotated in the proper direction, a pair of connected crank arms for engaging the latches of the opposite sets of selectors, and a pair of connected crank arms engaging the opposite arms on which the latches are pivoted, each of the connected pairs of crank arms having a common operating extension for controlling the operation of the drum.

37. In a phonograph for playing either side of a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common shaft, a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions, and having projections corresponding to the records on both faces of the discs, a common driving motor for the record and drum, means comprising two sets'of selectors, one for the right and the other for the left faces of the discs, the two sets of push button.

a plurality of records spaced apart upon a common shaft, 9. driving motor for rotating the records and a switch for controlling the supply of current to the motor, 'a selector drum rotatable in opposite directions by the motor, means comprising two sets of push button manually operable selectors, one :for the right and the other for the left faces of the records, the two sets being oppositely disposed and each operated by the rotation of the drum in one direction but not in the other, each selector comprising an operating lever and a releasable latch, a pair of connected crank arms for engaging the latches of the opposite sets of selectors, and having an extension on one of the cranks operated in the same direction when any of the latches are released, and the inotor switch having means engaged by the extension operating to close the switch and start the motor when any one of the selectors is operated.

39. In a multiple record phonograph, a plurality of records spaced upon a shaft rotatable in opposite directions, a carriage reciprocable with respect to the records, means for rotating the records and moving the carriage in opposite directions, a selector drum rotatable with said means, means comprising two sets of push button' manually operable selectors, one for the records on the right and the other for the left faces of the record discs, the selector drum having projections for engaging one set of selectors in one direction and the other set of selectors in the pther direction'of rotation, a switch for controlling the supply of current to the motor, means operated by any of the selectors for closing the switch to start the motor, a reversing switch operated at the limits of movement of the carriage, clutch mechanism for controlling the movement of the carriage and the'movement' of the record selector, and means operated by the selector drum when any selected latch mechanism is engaged thereby for actuating the clutch mechanism to stop and drum.

40. In a multiple record phonograph for playing either side of a plurality of records mounted on a common shaft, a motor for rotating the shaft in opposite directions, a switch for controlling the motor, a push button manually operable selector for choosing to play the selection on either side of any record, means operated by the selector to'close the motor switch, a movable carriage also operated by the motor, a reversing switch actuated at the ends of travel of the carriage to reverse the direction of the motor and the records driven thereby, a tone arm mounted on the carriage and moved into and out of record playing position, and means actuated when the tone arm is moved out of playing position for opening the switch to st op the motor.

41. In a phonograph for playing either side of the rotation of the carriage a plurality of disc records spaced apart upon a common shaft, a motor for rotating the records in opposite directions, push button manually operable selector means for predetermining which one. of the faces of any record is to be played, switch means operated by the selector for starting the motor, a carriage operated bythe motor and movable axially of the record shaft, means controlled by the selector for stopping the carriage for the selected record, a tone arm mounted on the carriage, means for moving the tone arm into and out of playing position after the carriage is stopped, resilient means mounted on the'carriage and depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage for pressing the tone arm in the direction of the selected record, and means actuated by the tone arm operating means for opening the motor switch when the tone arm has been removed after playing the selected record.

LLOYD J. ANDRES. 

